February26, 2014

Washington, DC – The House Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing today examining the President–s constitutional duty to faithfully execute the laws. Rep. Ron DeSantis (FL-06), a member of the committee, testified regarding the necessity of his Faithful Execution of the Law Act.

Currently, the Attorney General is required to report to Congress any time the Department of Justice stops enforcement of a law on the grounds that it is unconstitutional. The Faithful Execution of the Law Act strengthens this provision by extending this reporting requirement to include any federal officer who implements a formal or informal policy of non-enforcement, regardless of whether it is being done on constitutional or policy grounds.

“Congress possesses all legislative powers, yet the President has frequently delayed or amended duly-passed laws without congressional authorization,”? DeSantis said. “My Faithful Execution of the Law Act will bring more transparency to government by making the administration justify non-enforcement policies to the American people, thereby elevating the issue of constitutional authority as a part of the public debate.”?